Published • 15 Jul 2025
Your technology partner can be the difference between a thriving unattended retail operation and one that struggles to keep pace. The right partner helps you grow faster, operate more efficiently, and improve profitability. The wrong one creates unnecessary friction, slows you down, and leaves you exposed to outdated systems.
Plenty of providers make similar claims. So, how do you separate the talkers from the real enablers?
Here's what to look for when selecting your technology partner:
1. Can the Technology Grow With Your Business?
Growth often exposes the cracks in your systems. Whether you're scaling from a handful of sites to a nationwide footprint, your tech needs to keep up.
A strong technology partner makes it simple to bring new locations online, integrate with your current tools, and avoid infrastructure headaches. If their solution can't grow with your business, it's not a long-term fit.
2. Are They Ahead of the Curve?
Tech that just "keeps up" quickly falls behind. Your provider should anticipate changes in the sector, not react to them.
Smart store formats, such as PicoCooler Vision, demonstrate what forward-thinking looks like: blending secure access with an open product range, unlocking new use cases, and driving better revenue potential. A partner invested in innovation helps you stay competitive and opens up new opportunities as the market evolves.
3. Is This a One-Off Sale or an Ongoing Relationship?
Buying technology isn't just a transaction; it's a strategic investment. What happens after the installation matters just as much as the sales pitch.
A good partner offers reliable support, listens to feedback, and works with you to solve issues as they arise. You're not looking for a vendor who disappears once the invoice is paid—you need someone who's in it for the long haul and treats your growth like their own priority.
4. Do They Deliver Both Hardware and Software?
Some suppliers are hardware-only. Others focus solely on software. But unattended retail demands a joined-up approach.
You need hardware that works, day in and day out. But just as importantly, you need software that provides real insight into product performance, customer behaviour, and stock trends. When both parts are built to work together, your operation becomes more efficient, more profitable, and more responsive to demand.
5. Will They Deliver a Strong Return on Investment?
Tech spending needs to prove its worth. The right solution will do more than reduce manual workload; it will cut waste, improve accuracy, and create new revenue potential.
Smart stores, such as Stockwell and PicoCooler, as well as kiosks like MM6, are designed to enhance profit margins by addressing inefficiencies in traditional vending. They help you shrink labour costs, reduce theft, and grow average basket size. However, ROI should be tied to clear figures and genuine financial returns, rather than vague claims.
For operators in the UK, 365 Retail Markets offers a dedicated ROI Calculator tailored to local pricing and operational norms. This tool lets you compare traditional vending with micro markets and smart store models, using real-world averages to estimate potential earnings. If you're considering a switch, it provides a clear, data-backed view of your potential profit uplift—and a way to justify investment decisions to your stakeholders.
Grow with the Right Partner
Your technology partner plays a central role in whether your business stalls or scales. Choose one that offers scalable tools, a forward-thinking approach, proper support, and a commitment to measurable ROI, and you're setting yourself up for sustainable success.
365 Retail Markets provides the platforms and partnership needed to grow confidently in the unattended retail sector.
Want to learn more about how we can support your growth in the UK? Complete the form below, and a member of our team will be in touch.